Philippine Government Hospitals to be Privatized

Malacanang gave assurances Friday workers in government hospitals will not be displaced once government’s corporatization of health facilities fully takes effect.

A group of health workers expressed its concern the public-private partnership being undertaken by the government will result in job losses among government hospital workers.

In a press conference in Malacanang Friday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said PPP projects including those on health facilities are being discussed by the PPP center.

These projects are about to be bidded out by the government and Valte said, adding the Palace understands the sentiments of the public hospital workers about the corporatization.

“Hindi ipa-privatize. Hindi bibilhin ng private entity. The government will continue to own these hospitals. Just for the record, hindi privatization, corporatization because there will be private investors who are interested in putting money to modernize the facilities and such,” Valte explained.

The Dept. of Health, according to Valte, made a commitment that workers from government hospitals will not be displaced.

Affected workers will be transferred to other government hospitals after the modernization and once the government determines the manpower needs of such hospitals.